People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive Aubrey Norton has accused Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo of seeking to create “confusion” with his declaration that the government has been operating illegally since March 21st.
Speaking at a PNCR press conference on Friday, Norton maintained that Jagdeo’s claim is without merit. “We have already established that government is not illegal… to read [Article] 106 (6) without 106 (7) is really not to deal with the law properly. However one understands the nature of the Opposition Leader. First of all, the Opposition Leader is in a place where he hopes to get power at all costs. The government is clear in its head and it’s operating legally. The Elections Commission has jurisdiction over when elections are called and the minute the Elections Commission says to the president that we are prepared and ready and we have a credible list, there will be elections,” Norton said.
He stressed that the PNCR “will do everything to ensure” that confusion is not created, while adding that although it might appear that Jagdeo’s claims are being believed “people across the country overwhelmingly endorse David Granger and the present government.”
On behalf of the PNCR, Norton welcomed the recent decision by acting Chief Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire that the ongoing house-to-house registration exercise is legal.
He added that Justice George-Wiltshire reaffirmed the ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) that elections matters fall within the jurisdiction of the president and elections commission.
“The PPP attempt to suggest that the house-to-house registration is useless, is just another ploy…the registration is a legal process which permits the people of Guyana to register. It will ensure that there is a new credible list that will result in credible election…the PNCR wishes to urge all Guyanese to operate with the law by registering. We wish to especially urge the youth of Guyana to register,” Norton added.
On Thursday, Jagdeo announced that the PPP/C has taken the position that government became illegal due to the failure to hold elections by March 21st, following the passage of a no-confidence motion last December, and as a result the party would not recognise the legality of actions taken by it while it has been functioning in an interim capacity. “Since March 21st, the government has been practising unconstitutional rule. It is a usurper… it is acting outside the provision,” Jagdeo told a press conference. His pronouncement followed last Wednesday’s ruling by the Chief Justice, who echoed an observation by the CCJ that elections were due by March 21st given the passage of the motion. Prior to her judgment, the opposition had held that polls were due by September 18th, three months from June 18th, when the CCJ delivered its judgment on the validity of the motion.
